Welcome!
I am a quilter, paper crafter,
novice artist, real estate agent,
gardener and wife of a terrific man.
I make posts to this
blog from time to time to keep
my family and friends informed of what is happening in my studio where I make things. I like to sew doll quilts, wall quilts, coffee
quilts (coffee cup coasters, and create mini albums, alter tags and boxes and sometimes just post about what happens to be on my mind.

Friday, January 23, 2015

This week has been a tough one for me and for
many of my friends and colleagues. The woman who was my mentor when I began my
real estate career was hospitalized two weeks ago and while she
was in the hospital, they discovered that she had a terminal illness. My friend
came home earlier this week under hospice care. I knew I would not be able to
visit her, but wanted to make something special for her. Since I have been
making greeting cards a lot lately, I decided to make her the prettiest card I
could. It turned out to be a very spiritual experience. While I was making the
card and the box to put it in, it felt like I was saying a prayer with my
hands. It was unlike anything I had ever
experienced before and was a very touching and memorable experience. I could
not get to the post office because I have been housebound while I am recovering
from surgery. I planned to mail the card today. However, we learned late yesterday that my friend passed away yesterday afternoon. I will keep the card as a memory of my
friend and think of her when I see it or hold it in my hands.

Here is a photo of the card and the
coordinating envelope box that I made.

The passing of my friend reminded me of the
importance of living each day to the fullest. When my cousin passed away a few
years ago, my husband and I adopted a phrase from the movie Titanic. Make it
Count. In memory of those who have gone before us and as a gift to God, I try to
live each day with appreciation of the gifts I have been given. I know they are
just that . . . gifts . . . and I should not take them for granted. I should
share them with others. That is why I don’t feel guilty when I spend time in my
studio playing and trying new things that I can share with others. Our time here on earth is precious. Make it count!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Staying indoors during the cold weather suits me just fine. We had a couple of nights that dipped down to 8 below zero with wind chills to minus 20. That is too cold! We have quite a bit of snow on the ground and I love how it lights up my studio. I have been trying to work in my studio and have made a couple things this week. Recovering from surgery, I find that I am not completely on my game, so I cut and paste and then find I did something upside down or backward and need to start over again. I have learned to accept my mistakes, let them go and start over. Heaven knows that I have enough stash that a mistake here and there and paper and embellishments won't be missed a bit when they need to be tossed out! In fact, since I have not been able to run in and out of Michaels, JoAnns, or Hobby Lobby to shop, I have had to look deep into my stash for things to use. And guess what? There is a lot of stuff that I had forgotten I even had!

I need to get my chipboard and wooden embellishments out and make a masculine card tonight. I am always challenged when making a card for a guy. I don't know why. I found some nice examples on Pinterest to use as a reference. Perhaps this will be the year that I actually go to my stash first to make things instead of going shopping. It will be one of the positive outcomes from this time of recovery!

I made cards for two special special people and made little boxes for them because they are embellished and would not fit in a regular envelope. I really had fun making the boxes and found them easy to do once I got the hang of it! I used my Martha Stewart scoreboard. I have to admit that I need to have more patience with the learning curve when it comes to learning new things! I just want to sit down and make something and have it come out right the first time. Thank goodness that I have lots of scrapbook paper that I am not real fond of that is left over from some projects. You know how there is always one or two sheets of paper that just don't appeal to you? I use them for practice.

Below are the box envelopes and cards I mentioned. I know I will be making more because I really like how they turned out. :-)

Thank you for stopping by. Leave a comment below if you wish. :-)

I will be back next week. Until then may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

The new year's beginning has been rather uneventful ... especially compared to the final month of 2014. I had major surgery in December with an 8 day stay in the hospital and then an emergency admission due to complications on Christmas Eve for a 3 day stay. So the start of 2015 is a breeze so far. I have home care/visiting nurses checking in on me regularly and a husband who is the best caregiver I could ever ask for. ♡

While I have been housebound, I managed to finish knitting a wool cable knit scarf. I love it and wish I could go out to wear it...but when it is frigid cold like it is today, I will just need to wait. I won't be going anywhere soon! When I do get out, I plan to wear it with my brown suede trench coat. :-)

I made a gate fold card. I used vellum on the inside that is tucked into decorative photo corners. A sentiment can be written on the vellum with an extra fine point Sharpie. I got my inspiration for the card from...where else ... Pinterest. :-)

It is bitterly cold and snowy here today. I have been staying close to the fireplace. There isn't a better place in the world to be on a day like this ... and spending it with the one person I love more than anything or anyone in the entire world... my husband. ♡

I am grateful for so much. Good doctors and nurses The nursing assistants who shepherded me through my days and nights while in the hospital. Family, friends and colleagues who have reached out to us with cards, phone calls and offers of help. Thank you one and all. It means a lot.